Browse Items (2051 total)
Sort by:
Don Briggs, a brief description of wartime service
Describes wartime service from 1939 to 1945. Joined as Halton apprentice in September 1939. Posted as fitter engine to RAF Wittering working on Wellington Hampden and Manchester aircraft. Followed by tour at RAF Upper Heyford working on Wellington…
Tribute to a Pathfinder captain
Tribute to Squadron Leader William G Neal Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross, Croix de Guerre, 1912-2001. Describes how Don Briggs met and was crewed with Bill Neal’s crew who having completed one tour had been selected for a…
WO Donald Keith Fraser
Memoir describing his life and service career in the RAF. He also gives a list of 29 operations he participated in with notes on specific operations, and recounts a brief history of the Lancaster.
Interview with Simson Reid
Simson Reid was born in Scotland and was able to have a flight with Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus which although short, fostered an interest in aviation. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force and was posted to flying Hampdens as an air gunner. As…
Operations order 24 July 1944
List crews and aircraft for operations on night 24/25 July 1945. Includes duty personnel. On the reverse part of a medical form, not filled in and scribbled over in blue.
Three articles about Eileen Pickering and her wartime experinces
Three articles in the same document. The first 'About the contributor Eileen Pickering nee Gascoyne' describes early life, growing up as well as describing parents, school and success at swimming. The second article 'A story of her work at Bletchley…
Three Cheers for the Man on the Ground
A poem about ground crew.
RCAF Penhold station magazine
The Penhold Log. Contains many articles including account of trip to United States, station headquarters notes, how Canada became British, boys in the RAF, a cyclist memories, entertainment news, sporting activities (photograph of athletics team),…
So short a time
Jack's wife recollecting meeting Jack, their marriage and her later life. She describes meeting with Jack's surviving crew members, pilot Tom Dykins, Sergeant Bert Price, Sergeant Doug Looms and Stan Jones, who had been held as prisoners of war after…
Letter to Leading aircraftwoman Hayhurst from Flying Officer EJ Detheridge
He writes that Johnnie is missing but hopes that he may be safe, likely as a prisoner of war.
A handwritten annotation states 'Died in crash'.
A handwritten annotation states 'Died in crash'.
Elizabeth Humphrey's training notebook
A notebook used by Elizabeth Humphrey during her training as an instrument technician.
Equipment Receipt, Jose Hayhurst
A receipt issued to Jose for the return of her service clothing.
Letter to Jozef Nogal from ET Wallis
The letter tells Jozef she has a cold, has been sight seeing in Edinburgh, to the theatre, plans to to hear the London Philharmonic Orchestra in Edinburgh and she is unsure of what work she will do.
Letter to Jozef Nogal from ET Wallis
Elizabeth writes that her training continues, she is going into Edinburgh to have dinner with a friend of her Mother's and she thinks she will work as a driver,
Record of Educational and Vocational Training
A card issued to Jose to record her progress on Dressmaking and Handicraft and Embroidery courses.
Cartoon WAAFs
Two members of the women's auxiliary air force taking. One has shiny leading aircraftwoman badge on arm of uniform. Caption 'I wondered how you got it!!!'.
Started up without permission
Cartoon showing front of a four engine bomber with port outer engine started and blowing two men off a gantry to front. Pilot looks out of cockpit window. On the reverse 'Taxying'.
Some hours later the undercarriage collapsed
Four engine bomber with undercarriage collapsed with figures of men caught in various predicaments caused by the event. On the reverse '35b Undercarriage lever'.
Part of letter to Cathie from Ford Killen
Reports receiving letters from family and Cathie. Reminisces over time in England. Mentions his ancestry and French Napoleonic history. Continues with long rambling description of his environment and comparison of WAAF and WACS. Concludes with some…
Letter to Mrs Wilson from her husband's batman
Letter from Corporal F W Meredith, Squadron Leader Wilson's batman, expressing sympathy and stating that he had been ask to forward a number of articles and he would do this under separate cover. Offers hope that her husband was taken prisoner.
Jose Hayhurst and M Harvey Plotting
Jose and another WAAF working on vertical boards. On the reverse 'Given by the News of the World filing dept in Fleet Street on Sunday morning after hitching to London with Jeannie Lund from Hythe July/Aug 44'. Stamped Fox Photos Ltd.
A note…
A note…
Letter from chaplain to Mrs Wilson
Letter from the Chaplain at Royal Air Force Oakington to Mrs Wilson expressing his sympathy that her husband and his crew did not return from an operation to Nuremberg the previous evening.
514 Squadron, RAF Waterbeach,1944
A large group of airmen arranged at the front and on top of a Lancaster. The image has a squadron crest at the top. Behind the aircraft is an open hangar.
Interview with John Tipton
John Tipton grew up in Tenby and studied law at University College London. He volunteered for the RAF and trained as a navigator. He was posted to 40 Squadron where he began operational flying before the squadron were posted to Malta. After his tour…
Interview with Syd Cooper. One
Sidney Cooper was born in Blackpool and joined the Royal Air Force in 1941. He first served as an engine fitter in Fighter Command before remustering as aircrew. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 427 Squadron from RAF Leeming. He later…